True love is admiration, the right person for us helps us grow to our full potential. A couple shouldn’t love each other as they are now, they should be committed to educating each other and weathering the process of doing so. Each person should want to seduce the other into becoming a better version of themselves.-Plato

My best friend got to marry his best friend this summer and I got to make her gown. My brother Shawn is not only my best friend, but he is my favourite friend. He makes everything better. He makes everything important. He makes everything funny. My favourite memories frequently have him as a protagonist.

Shawn is the kind of man who treats everyone as an equal, who is endlessly curious, who will go out of his way to do any thing, for any one, at any time. He is equally as hilarious as he is intellegent. I know he will make a great husband and partner because he is loyal, passionate, playful and nurturing.

When picking a mate, I was always more picky than I think Shawn would ever want me to be, but I couldn’t help it, the best deserved the best. In the past I was always the first one to know what was going on in Shawn’s life, anytime we were excited about something, we would call each other to share the news. So I was shocked to hear how Shawn had brought “his friend” to Salt Spring to meet our parents and attend a (super intimate and romantic) concert on Duck Creek Farm. I was suspicious, who was this chick? Why had I never heard of her?

The start of our relationship was a little unorthodox to say the least, he was my manager at the restaurant we both worked at, our relationship had to be kept secret from our coworkers and bosses. Having both just ended long term relationships, we decided to extend that secrecy to the rest of our lives so we could figure out what we were to each other without the pressure of the outside world. It didn’t take long to realize that we were falling in love. We finally came out of the closet at the request of his sister

I decided to host a Thanksgiving dinner and insisted Shawn bring his new “friend”.

Shawn invited me to a Thanksgiving dinner. I’ve never been more nervous to meet someone than I was to meet Kristi. I knew that a ‘yes’ from Kristi was going to be an important one.

Shawn’s new friend arrived with 2 pies in hand- great sign. She was beautiful, luminous in fact. Curly hair, twinkly eyes and an incredibly warm and kind smile. She gave me a big squeeze of a hug. I liked her right away.

As my relationship with Shawn grew stronger and closer, my interactions with Kristi became more frequent. I learned quickly that her fierce passion and love for the world fueled her more tangible passion- clothing. With my first Qube purchase, I knew I was hooked.

Every time I saw Paige, in real life, in photos, on FaceTime and anywhere else, she was wearing at least one piece of Qube, I’m not exaggerating.

Qube is the first clothing line that I had ever experienced being 100% comfortable with every purchase. Wearing Qube makes me feel excited, beautiful and comfortable; I feel the love in every piece I wear. I feel proud that my closet is now filled with beautiful, handcrafted pieces from one of my favourite people.

One warm summer evening while sitting on the rooftop of our shared studio space, Shawn and I were having a cold bevvy when he told me he wanted to ask Paige to marry him. I was not surprised, Paige felt different right from the start, she had to be something special to have been kept a secret for so long. She is the perfect blend of creative, spontaneous, intellectual, goofy, athletic and imaginative, not only that, but she fully embraced and enhanced everything we all know and love about Shawn. I love Paige, I love the way she loves my brother and the way he loves her.

It was a clear cool September night when Shawn asked me ‘do you love me so much that you want to marry me?’ We were on the boardwalk in front of The Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City. No, I didn’t cry. I was too excited and much too happy to cry. I would have married him in that second, on that boardwalk. That same night I asked Shawn an important question too ‘do you think Kristi would make my wedding dress?'

I was missing Shawn, he and Paige were on a road trip across Canada. I knew he had planned to ask Paige marry him on this trip but I didn’t know when or where it was taking place. My phone started ringing, it was Shawn on FaceTime. He and Paige were both in the frame, beaming. They walked me through how it all went down. I was so proud of my big bro for locking down Halle Berry. Once we caught up it settled in that not only was my best friend getting married, I was getting a new sister! I was the first to cry, then she asked if I would make her gown, then I really cried. My boyfriend thinks I’m overdramatic and that I emotionally overwhelm myself, he is right, I can’t help it, I love love so much it makes my heart hurt. I could hardly wait for the newly engaged couple to get home so we could talk shop. I was so curious what Paige was envisioning.

I had a very specific vision in mind. I wanted a tulle skirt and a lace bodice with a V in the front and a V in the back. That being said, I had no ideas about the details of the dress. I tried on a slim, netter tulle ivory skirt, it was perfect. So I asked my trusted designer if I should buy the skirt and have her fashion the bodice for me. I got the go ahead from Kristi and we began to share ideas.

Paige and I went lace shopping in Vancouver, we found this gorgeous, beaded ivory lace that spoke to the bride. I love lace shopping, it is such a personal thing. Once we had the fabric I was even more excited to get started on this project.

Kristi and I spent months exchanging photos of wedding dresses. My requests stated simple and straightforward, a V in the front and a V in the back, with no scalloped edges on the front. Kristi took my measurements and limited scope of what I wanted my dress to be like and went to work. Our first fitting was a true testament to how far our relationship had come from that first meeting at Thanksgiving. We were able to have an open and honest conversation about how we felt about the dress and the direction in which it was going. I had trusted Kristi, as my favourite designer to go with what felt right to her, and boy did she deliver.

With Paige in Vancouver and me on Salt Spring, our fittings were far and few between. The skirt didn’t need much work, she wanted a different waistband and to bring up the hem. The beaded bodice is where I spent 99%of my time. My sewing machine despises beads, which made me do most of the sewing with a needle and thread. There is no comparison to the tranquility and intention that comes with hand stitching. I was in heaven. Our first fitting was a very basic mock up of a concept. Our second fitting was on the Wednesday before their Saturday wedding. Eek! We were close, but still had quite a bit of work to do to get it fitting perfectly. I had a photographer that I completely admire come to capture this fitting, an unforgettable moment between two sisters to be. 3 days before the wedding, our final fitting. My mom, her mom, her sister Dayle and 2 cousins joined in. Paige stepped into the dress and turned for help with the zip, as a designer, there is an unbelievable sense of satisfaction when the zip zips with ease. Before facing herself in the mirror, Paige turned to the women in her life to see their reaction. There was not a dry eye in the house. My mom and I witnessed such tenderness and love between this family we were just getting to know. They looked at her, the little girl who had grown into a stunning woman and bride. We looked at her, my new sister, my moms new daughter in law, a force to be reckoned with. She turned to the mirror and had that feeling all brides wish for, the moment they see themselves as a bride.

Did I cry? Yes. I cried because in that moment, the dress became my dress. My perfect wedding dress. I cried because I could feel the love that was put into every hand stitched appliqué. I could feel the dedication that was put into making sure I got the dress I envisioned. I cried because I was enveloped in a piece of art that was lovingly crafted for me by my sister. I was surrounded by beautiful women who love and support me, I was finally ready to open the door to the newest chapter in my life in the perfect dress.

Using the left over fabric I designed a surprise for my new sister. I placed this surprise dress into a cake box with printed photos from our first fitting. When we first discussed what she wanted in a wedding dress we toyed with the idea of a tea length dress, we talked of chopping the dress after the ceremony to allow for more vigorous dancing and celebrating. After icing those ideas, I decided to make a party dress for her to change into if she wished. It had a beaded bodice, with a strappy crossed back that attached by Qube’s signature buttons; a short, flirty and voluminous skirt that had the bride spinning all night. I presented her with this present at our final fitting. She cried again. She was overwhelmed with all the love she deserved.

I love my dress because it was the first major collaboration between myself and my new sister. My favourite part of the dress is the lace. All of the lace, but especially the little lace cap sleeves. They were the perfect final touch. I love the lace V in the back and the way the neckline skimmed past my collarbones and onto my shoulders. I love the cut of the bodice down the sides, the shape is so pretty.

I am so lucky to have found a designer that understands what I want and need from my everyday clothing and even more lucky to have been able to translate that into the most beautiful wedding dress.

Paige’s dress was unlike anything I had ever worked on. The gown itself was challenging and rewarding but the sentiment behind the gown and the moments it created for the two of us are unparalleled. I look forward to growing old with you Mrs Lee. Thank you for loving my best friend unconditionally, falling in love with you has been Shawn’s favourite thing he has ever done and will continue to be his favourite thing as you navigate through this beautiful life.

PS - I made my bridesmaid dress, which was so light, comfortable and beautiful. Each maid was in a different colour and style dress, no one saw eachothers dresses until the day of and we ended up surprisingly cohesive!

My second of three wedding dresses was for my Ornithologist Woodland Bride, an upcycled, vintage Gunne Sax dress.

"The look I was going for on our wedding day was a brew of boho/woodland/vintage/classic, or to steal some words from my bandmate, 'just the right amount of hippie'."

Veronica came to me with a dress she's had since she was a little girl, a dress that came from her great grandmothers boutique in Vernon. It had a high neckline, full billowy sleeves and was striped with a delicate lace. Initially this was going to be the dress we reworked for the wedding.

As I got started on the project, it was evident we were going to need much more lace than the dress provided. The colour of lace was difficult to match, at a thrift shop I found what seemed to be the perfect lace that I would be able to tea dye to match. The lace took to the dye just as I'd hoped. The dress came together beautifully, off the shoulder, low back and perfect for this bride. That was, until we took the dress outside. Inside, the tea dyed lace complimented the existing lace wonderfully.

But as soon as it went outside, the sun/natural light reflection on the newly dyed lace made it look completely different, it looked pinkish, almost purple. What a nightmare.

This was no longer the perfect dress for this bride, we needed to rethink our options. Being that this dress held sentimental value, we had to figure out a way of using it. Enter Anna, the maid of honour, who just so happens to be the same size as the bride. We decided to shorten the dress for Anna to wear on the special day.

Photograph by Jamie Perchie

Photograph by Lisa McCulloch

Veronica, being the laid back, opposite of Bridezilla Bride she was, didn't let this get her down. She cruised Etsy and found another vintage gown for us to upcycle.

An old school Gunne Sax dress with a ruffle along the neckline, full bodied sleeves and a perfectly Veronica ankle length hemline. This dress had me excited. The scalloped lace was ideal for the style of dress we were going to create.

"Connor proposed at Sunset beach, a couple of days after I defended my thesis and a few days before I was leaving for Fernie for 2 months of fieldwork. We’d discussed getting married in the near future, but I wasn’t expecting him to propose during that narrow time window, so it was a pretty cool surprise! We were taking Osa (our dog) for a stroll on Sunset beach, just up the road from our house, and he asked if I wanted to see “Osa’s new trick.” He told me to turn away, and when I turned back, Osa was coming towards me with a little parcel tied to her collar and a ring inside!"

photograph by Jamie Perchie

Connor and Veronica have known eachother since their first year of Biology at UVIC in 2008, they started dating in January 2009. These two were our first friends my partner and I made after moving back to Saltspring last fall. We instantly hit it off after realizing we had both been with our partners for 8+ years and we both had doodles. With lots in common, we became fast friends. Having Veronica living so close, I requested frequent fittings to keep the dress moving along as quickly and efficiently as possible. It seemed as though every time she would come for a fitting, she would leave with another piece of Qube to add to her closet.

"I am in the process of upgrading my wardrobe to everything Qube."

I love the idea of upcycling for many reasons, but primarily, it is an eco friendly choice that creates constraints that are fun to play in.

"My favourite part of my dress was definitely the moody scalloped lace ruffle over the arms and low on the back (with a lovely little dip). I loved everything about it, though, from the casual ankle-cut to the vintage lace and holes from trampling through the salal and oregon grape en route to the altar."

This was the first wedding dress I had made/altered that I got to witness walking down the aisle. We were in at a Wellness Retreat, Eaglenest Sanctuary on The Koksilah River, the weather was completely West Coast, bright, misty and gorgeous. The groom was escorted by his parents, followed by the best man and Ms Osa, who carried the wedding bands.

Photograph by Lisa McCulloch

The bridesmaids meandered through the forest as the incredible Helmi Hess lead them with her ethereal vocals and autoharp.

Photograph by Lisa McCulloch

Veronica followed with her parents on either side. Bohemian, woodland, vintage and classic. She was alluring, she was glowing, she exuded confidence. She was on her way to marrying her best friend and truest love, Doctor Silverthorn.

"I accessorized with some beautiful green sapphire earrings made by my momma, a sweet flower crown and whimsical bouquet (with some eagle and owl feathers found during various adventures) made by Adria at Little Bee Blooms, and a funky turquoise/leather choker I found at a thrift shop in Cobble Hill a few days before the big day (just for the evening)."

Photographs by Lisa McCulloch

A beautiful day in the forest, alongside a river, the entire venue dripping with flowers and filled with heartfelt words, original songs, delicious (local) food, cold bevies (served out of a canoe cooler!) games, dancing and all the love.

Thank you for trusting me through the entire process and letting me be a part of your big day in more ways than one. It was an absolute pleasure and you are an absolute treasure.

"You made my dream dress come true, ya little wizard!"

Photographs by Jamie Perchie

I encourage you to go to visit this album of magical moments captured by Wendy Shepherd

Use password: loveandfolkonthekoke to enter

Sneak peek below:

Inspired by the upcycled wedding dress and maid of honour dress, bridesmaid Angela bought her own Value Village treasure for me to rework

I took it apart completely and managed to turn it into something beautiful

Three upcycled, reworked dresses, for 3 beautiful women, for one magnificent day.

2017 marks the year Qube breaks into the bridal scene. The first of three wedding dresses was for my Galiano Doula Bride, Emily. Emily got married on beautiful Galiano Island, British Columbia at the beginning of May.

"May 14th, 2016 — Thor took me to one of our favourite spots on Vancouver Island. We drove up a logging road, to a cut block looking over mountains, oceans and trees. I didn’t think anything of it; we had spent a lot of time here. The sun was shining, we had the place to ourselves. Thor got down on one knee and proposed! I was so happy and surprised. Of course I said yes! Thor knew me so well. It couldn’t have been a more perfect moment: just the two of us, in the middle of nowhere. We wanted to waste no time in planning the big day. We agreed we wanted it to be as casual and relaxed as possible, a reflection of us."

Emily and I had gone to school together and kept in contact through social media. When she asked if I was interested in making her wedding dress, I was ecstatic. One of a kind, custom pieces are quite easily my favourite things to work on.

"Kristi came to mind right away when I thought about my wedding dress. We met for coffee at Barb's Buns on Saltspring. Unable to find suitable pictures online, I pulled out a sketch I had drawn recently. She was confident that she could bring this image to life. She asked lots of questions about the fabric and design, questions I hadn’t yet thought about. We stepped outside, I took off my rain coat, and she took all my measurements."

I had only ever made one traditional wedding dress before. To be honest, I was a little nervous. The skirt that was drawn had a sleek, modern, clean and minimal train- unlike anything I had tried before. Being primarily self taught, I knew this would be a steep but incredibly rewarding learning curve; I could not wait to get started!

"The dress was really important to me. I was worried that I wouldn’t find something that truly represented me. I dreamt of being a bride, in a white dress, my dad walking me down an aisle. It also made me feel nervous. I wanted to feel like myself in that moment. Not like I was dressed in a costume for this special occasion. I had a pretty clear vision of what I saw myself wearing, but I couldn’t imagine finding anything that would come close to it in real life."

Being an island girl myself, I it was easy to empathize with Emily, to step into her mind and imagine how she would want to feel on her big day, beautiful yet comfortable. That is my main motivation by all things Qube, the better you feel, the better you look. When you're not comfortable, your focus is elsewhere.

"I felt so comfortable with her, with her experience and knowledge. It was clear I was in good hands."

Emily living between Galiano and Victoria for school and me being on Saltspring, made the process trickier. I went on a fabric run to Vancouver to source the fabric for her dress. I narrowed down my lace choices and sent her photos to make the ultimate decision. Once I had the fabric it was time to get started on the pattern. I always feel confident in bodice work and tailoring, it was the draping of the skirt that taught me a lot. Iteration. Reiteration. Trial. Error. Alteration. Improvement. Finalization. Success.

"Kristi invited me to her home for each fitting. It always felt so warm and inviting, and she made the whole process fun and easy. Seeing the dress come to life was amazing. Hard to believe something so beautiful, with all of its detail could come from such a simple sketch. She was always open to suggestions and changes, providing a picture of what it could look like if we did this or that. She took everything I said I wanted and added so much more."

After a few fittings we had it. That simple sketch had come to life and fit our bride like a glove. She was radiant.

"The wedding dress she made was more beautiful than I could have imagined."

Emily and Thor both grew up on Galiano, they planned an intimate wedding ceremony at Spanish Hills Dock followed by a reception at the Galiano Gun Club. Emily, a beautiful, seemingly delicate woman in school to be a Doula, is actually a badass hunter who knows her way around a gun. The venue choices were perfect.

"May 13th 2017 the big day was here. The sky was moody. Grey clouds, full of rain, filled the sky. The morning flew by, and 2:30pm came quickly. It was time to get into the dress. The dress was simple and elegant, it fit perfectly, and it was easy to put on. The detail of the high lace on my chest was such that I didn’t feel that I needed any accessories. I felt beautiful. The high emotions I had felt in the morning disappeared. I was calm and ready to be married. Everything felt just right. The sun came out, and blue sky began to break through the clouds. It couldn’t have been a more perfect time to get married."

There is no greater feeling as a designer and seamstress than the achievement of completion on a project of this magnitude. Thank you Emily for your trust and enthusiasm through this process and thank you for your words. It's brides like you that are making my designing and sewing dreams come true.

Qrew by Qube is something for the boys, finally. Our first Qrew staple piece is the Qrew Neck Sweater available in black and grey. The timing couldn't be more perfect with the cold weather approaching; this sweater is a heavier weight cotton but still breathable, soft and stretchy with a dropped sleeve to fit shoulders of all sizes.

Born in Nelson and raised on Saltspring Island, Kean started skateboarding when he was 11 years old. Kean's dedication to the sport has taught him so much about himself and about life. He loves the freedom and fun it provides. He has been skating at the skatepark on Kanaka Road since he day it opened; it's his playground.

I was inspired by his devotion to his craft, so I (somewhat impulsively) asked if he would be interested in doing a photoshoot for my new Qrew Neck Sweater; within the week we met at the skatepark at sunrise for a shoot with Billie Woods. I had always wanted to work with Billie, she has such a fresh and beautiful perspective.

The three of us met at 7:30am, it was cold, it was frosty and it was breathtaking. The graffiti in the park is incredibly colourful and set off Kean's all black wardrobe perfectly. As the sun came up it kissed the trees in the distance in the most amazing way. It didn't take long for Billie to set up and Kean to warm up, while I stood and watched them create a little magic.

This was my first photoshoot since my move back to Saltspring and I'm feeling completely inspired by the island and it's people. There is something so unbelievably cool about watching someone in their element; I love the focus and determination in their eyes.

I grew up in a family of five, a dad, a mom and two older brothers. In the last 15 years I cannot help but notice how quickly I am becoming my momma; dressing like, acting like, looking like and sounding like her. It all began when I noticed most of my favourite clothes to wear were kept in her closet. We would frequently show up wearing an undeniably similar outfit. Exhibit A,B and C:

The Qube items I've created in the past were all items that were missing in my closet, items I needed. This time I wanted to create something that would be missing in my Momma's closet. Something I might have borrowed if I were still living at home.

Saltspringers are practical people, but practical people don’t always want to look practical. My Mom is always taking my furry four legged little brother on hikes, so it had to be something warm, breathable and have pockets for treats. The cotton body breathes beautifully, while the long luon sleeves allow your arms to move freely. This was a perfect piece for my Momma to wear up the mountain then through town while feeling comfortable and looking cute. The little details are what make it, with a small recycled leather strap to draw in the waist for a little definition without constraint.

I will no longer be able to order this same fabric. This Cowled Tulip Top style is exclusive. Only 3 left in the shop.

I met Amber in highschool, we started working at the same pizza shop nearly 6 years ago. This past August Amber messaged me looking for a dress to wear to her engagement photoshoot with Billie Woods .
I had a dress in mind: The First Date Dress, a lavender bustier bodice with a draped chiffon skirt. The colour and fit couldn't have been more perfect for Amber. This beauty couple is set to wed in the fall of 2015.

Almost 6 years later, on our favourite beach with our two dogs running around us, [Nick] dropped to one knee, and pulled out a ring. A ring he had had made specially for me, on the island where we first met, by the same jeweller that had made my own mother’s wedding band. The stone was green amber, my favourite, and perfect for obvious reasons!

We had about two weeks together after the proposal before Nick left for a job in Northern BC and we were out of touch for almost 4 months. We really wanted to do something to celebrate our engagement when he returned home, and a photo shoot seemed like the perfect idea. I had had the opportunity to work with the amazing photographer Billie Woods almost 10 years ago, and was thrilled that she agreed to do the shoot for us. Having that connection, and returning to Salt Spring Island, the place where Nick and I had our first date, was really special. The only thing that wasn’t perfect was my dress for the shoot. I had bought it from a local store, but while every other aspect of our day was bursting with meaning, this dress just wasn’t doing it for me. I had a moment of brilliance when I thought of Kristi Lee and Qube Clothing. With the shoot days away I figured there was no way it would work, but I sent her a message explaining my situation. Kristi went above and beyond for me, she invited me to her house the morning of the shoot to try on a dress she thought would work. It fit perfectly and looked stunning! The colours, the fabric, the fit – it was like wearing a piece of art. Not only was I thrilled with the dress itself, but Kristi and I had been friends and coworkers when Nick and I first started dating all of those years ago. Having her be there from the first moments of our relationship to making the dress that I wore to celebrate our engagement was so incredibly special for me.

This summer I had the honour of making my friend (formally known as) Missy Caron’s wedding dress. I had never made a traditional wedding dress before but had always wanted to; this was the perfect opportunity, with the perfect bride.

"I loved every moment of my experience making my dress with Kristi. From designing the gown together to choosing the lace and chiffon to emailing new ideas back and forth all the way to the final fitting. The entire process was wonderful. I always had a clear idea of what I wanted my wedding dress to be in my mind so when Matt proposed, I started drawing and figuring out exactly what I wanted.

Kristi and I grew up on Salt Spring Island together and knew each other from preschool all the way to high school. I had seen on Facebook that she had made beautiful dresses and was starting an amazing looking business. So I emailed her and asked if she would like to make my wedding dress.

Kristi made exactly what I wanted and more. She found ways to make my dream dress even better than I imagined. Kristi cared about each and every little detail and that really showed on my wedding day. From the lace top, the exposed lace in the back, the dramatic sweetheart neckline, the hand sewn beads/sequins to the flowy chiffon train- it was simply stunning.

On top of having my dream, custom made wedding dress, Kristi also made me an incredible exit dress with some Qube flair, everyone loved it!"

I had so much fun making Missy's gown and decided to use the remaining lace in a surprise for the bride. Every bride needs some sassy 'exit dress'. I wanted to make something a little sexier, something for the groom. A delicate backless lace bodice with a structured cotton skirt and the lovebird's names embroidered along the hem.

I hope I get the opportunity to create another wedding gown, the whole process was so gratifying. The brainstorming, the fabric shopping, the drafting, the construction, the fittings, then the hand off. It was amazing feeling to watch one of my oldest childhood friends become a bride. Thank you Mrs Missy Byron for choosing me to make this special dress.
xox